The 5th Street Candle Collection - Stories
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The photo on the Esther's Kickin' Up Your Heels Pumpkin Bread Candle is my mom in 1965 kickin' up her heels by the swing set. The recipe on this candle is her FABULOUS pumpkin bread! It has been a family favorite for years and now, it can be one of your favorites too! The aroma of this pure soy candle will give your home the smell of fresh baked pumpkin bread anytime you want!
The story behind...Esther's Kickin' Up Your Heels Pumpkin Bread Candle
Stop the ride (the world)... I want to get off!
By Shelly Thompson
By Shelly Thompson
My mom always kept the neighborhood kids amused at her antics. Maybe because she had come through so many health issues, she had less fear then most people her age, but one summer...she took off on a minibike and we all learned a lesson.
Have you ever thought…STOP! the ride (the world) I want to get off? If so, this will speak to you. Growing up on 5th Street often provided a lot of free entertainment. On any given day there would be something exciting taking place…now, I do use the term exciting loosely, but to a young girl…these were exiting things. If one of the ladies got a new piece of furniture that meant the neighborhood ladies instantly gathered to admire and ‘ohh and ahh’ over tea. If someone got a new perm…watch out! The gathering surrounding that lucky neighbor lady would last well over an hour as they would discuss when they had their last perm, how long the perm lasted, and what beautician (an older word for today’s stylist) they went to. It was a gathering of excitement. As I remember these afternoon celebrations I’m reminded when the Bible tells us Naomi sat with her grandson on her lap and all the women in the neighborhood surrounded her and were joyful for her (Ruth 4:16,17). Welcome to 5th Street, Naomi.
One summer afternoon a 14-year-old boy in our neighborhood arrived with a brand new minibike he’d just purchased. He was driving all around 5th Street. While it certainly looked fun, I knew my parents would never allow me to try it out. That was when my mom decided that although she had never rode a minibike in her entire life....she should somehow share in this neighbor boy’s joy by attempting to ride the minibike. Picture the scene...four neighborhood kids gathered around as my mom climbed onto the minibike to take it for a quick ride. She gave it the gas…and it definitely gave her a ride.
The next thing we knew she was driving around in circles, through yards, up and down the street. As she would whiz by us we could hear her yelling, “Where are the brakes? How do I stop this thing?” The new 14-year-old owner of the minibike was jumping up-and-down yelling back to her that the brake was on the handle. With all the commotion and her erratic steering of the minibike everywhere she wasn’t able to hear him…and just kept driving around aimlessly.
Three houses away from our house lived a family with several children. On this particular day, they were sitting on their porch enjoying the afternoon. We all watched in amazement as this next scene unfolded (I think we even quit jumping up and down yelling where the brakes were for a minute)…my mom gave the minibike extra gas and drove straight up the steep embankment in their yard…headed directly for their porch! I had never seen that family move that quickly in all of my years on 5th Street. That family scattered off the porch like scared birds afraid their porch would be where my mother would finally crash on the minibike. Luckily, just before the porch she was able to turn around and head back down the hill toward the neighborhood kids who were once again jumping up and down telling her where the brakes were. I can still see her driving around in circles yelling, “How do I stop this thing?”
Isn’t that the way life is sometimes though? Things are spinning out of control and we’re going around in circles. We have accidentally made ourselves overworked and involved in things that perhaps the Lord didn’t even direct us to do. Similar to my mom climbing on the minibike that day…I do NOT think that was part of God’s plan for her that afternoon. We are still a work in progress and sometimes take on so much we feel like we’re driving around asking God, “How do we stop? Where are the brakes?” Often we’ve stepped on life's minibike going so fast that just like my mom, who couldn’t hear everyone yelling that the brakes were on the handle…we can’t hear God’s voice.
Have you ever thought…STOP! the ride (the world) I want to get off? If so, this will speak to you. Growing up on 5th Street often provided a lot of free entertainment. On any given day there would be something exciting taking place…now, I do use the term exciting loosely, but to a young girl…these were exiting things. If one of the ladies got a new piece of furniture that meant the neighborhood ladies instantly gathered to admire and ‘ohh and ahh’ over tea. If someone got a new perm…watch out! The gathering surrounding that lucky neighbor lady would last well over an hour as they would discuss when they had their last perm, how long the perm lasted, and what beautician (an older word for today’s stylist) they went to. It was a gathering of excitement. As I remember these afternoon celebrations I’m reminded when the Bible tells us Naomi sat with her grandson on her lap and all the women in the neighborhood surrounded her and were joyful for her (Ruth 4:16,17). Welcome to 5th Street, Naomi.
One summer afternoon a 14-year-old boy in our neighborhood arrived with a brand new minibike he’d just purchased. He was driving all around 5th Street. While it certainly looked fun, I knew my parents would never allow me to try it out. That was when my mom decided that although she had never rode a minibike in her entire life....she should somehow share in this neighbor boy’s joy by attempting to ride the minibike. Picture the scene...four neighborhood kids gathered around as my mom climbed onto the minibike to take it for a quick ride. She gave it the gas…and it definitely gave her a ride.
The next thing we knew she was driving around in circles, through yards, up and down the street. As she would whiz by us we could hear her yelling, “Where are the brakes? How do I stop this thing?” The new 14-year-old owner of the minibike was jumping up-and-down yelling back to her that the brake was on the handle. With all the commotion and her erratic steering of the minibike everywhere she wasn’t able to hear him…and just kept driving around aimlessly.
Three houses away from our house lived a family with several children. On this particular day, they were sitting on their porch enjoying the afternoon. We all watched in amazement as this next scene unfolded (I think we even quit jumping up and down yelling where the brakes were for a minute)…my mom gave the minibike extra gas and drove straight up the steep embankment in their yard…headed directly for their porch! I had never seen that family move that quickly in all of my years on 5th Street. That family scattered off the porch like scared birds afraid their porch would be where my mother would finally crash on the minibike. Luckily, just before the porch she was able to turn around and head back down the hill toward the neighborhood kids who were once again jumping up and down telling her where the brakes were. I can still see her driving around in circles yelling, “How do I stop this thing?”
Isn’t that the way life is sometimes though? Things are spinning out of control and we’re going around in circles. We have accidentally made ourselves overworked and involved in things that perhaps the Lord didn’t even direct us to do. Similar to my mom climbing on the minibike that day…I do NOT think that was part of God’s plan for her that afternoon. We are still a work in progress and sometimes take on so much we feel like we’re driving around asking God, “How do we stop? Where are the brakes?” Often we’ve stepped on life's minibike going so fast that just like my mom, who couldn’t hear everyone yelling that the brakes were on the handle…we can’t hear God’s voice.
My mom, kickin' up her heels by the swing set just having fun for a photo pose!
That's why I love this picture of my mom on the Esther's Kickin' Up Your Heels Pumpkin Bread...she lived life fully, served God fearlessly...often kickin' up those heels! Luckily my mom and the minibike were unscathed that day as she finally let off the gas and slowed to a stop. It’s probably a good thing my Dad (Sheriff Andy of the 5th Street neighborhood) was at work.
When we slow down we can listen for God’s voice. When we tell the world to STOP! for a little while we can get a clear idea of Who God is and hear Him speak to us. There was a joyous celebration on 5th Street that day when the minibike finally came to a stop and both my mom and the minibike were safe. I will always remember the neighborhood celebration that afternoon my mom finally STOPPED! The day that you decide to stop driving your own minibike erratically in circles will be a day that your heart will celebrate joyously too.
How about you? Do you need to do let off the gas pedal…and stop to rest for a while and see what the Lord would have you do? Does your life feel like an out-of-control minibike going up the street and about ready to crash into a porch full of people? Are you to the point where you are about ready to run out of gas? Is it possible the Lord is yelling STOP! but everything is so loud you can’t hear Him?
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Ecclesiastics 3:1
When we slow down we can listen for God’s voice. When we tell the world to STOP! for a little while we can get a clear idea of Who God is and hear Him speak to us. There was a joyous celebration on 5th Street that day when the minibike finally came to a stop and both my mom and the minibike were safe. I will always remember the neighborhood celebration that afternoon my mom finally STOPPED! The day that you decide to stop driving your own minibike erratically in circles will be a day that your heart will celebrate joyously too.
How about you? Do you need to do let off the gas pedal…and stop to rest for a while and see what the Lord would have you do? Does your life feel like an out-of-control minibike going up the street and about ready to crash into a porch full of people? Are you to the point where you are about ready to run out of gas? Is it possible the Lord is yelling STOP! but everything is so loud you can’t hear Him?
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Ecclesiastics 3:1
Welcome to 5th Street.
Welcome! If you've purchased a candle from the 5th Street Candle Collection, I personally, hope you are enjoying it. Welcome to something different 'The 5th Street Candle Collection' from our family to yours...tied with apron strings...faith in God’s plan...and love. These candles were created from the book 'Heart of a Warrior - A Legacy of Faith', now in it's 4th printing. 'Heart of a Warrior - A Legacy of Faith' was written after the passing of my mother. It's about my years growing up on 5th Street, a quaint little neighborhood tucked in Highland Park in Des Moines, Iowa. Our neighborhood was like the fictional Mayberry. There's so much of my history, my roots, on the big hill of 5th Street. It's where my story begins. If you can, visualize the tidy well manicured lawns of 5th Street, with small cozy homes lining the big hill...porches where you were always welcome and the neighbors visited over coffee and sweet tea as flags waved in the breeze...you're in the right spot, welcome to my childhood neighborhood.
In my book 'Heart of a Warrior' - A Legacy of Faith, I had the amazing honor to introduce readers to the ‘Warrior’s’ of 5th Street. A special place God planted a group of elderly women, mostly widows, that helped raise two young girls, as my mom was misdiagnosed and finally, even institutionalized. Among these faithful sweet women (I refer to them as the Aunt Bea’s of Mayberry in ‘Heart of a Warrior') was my sweet grandmother (Millie McKeever-Stout) and grandfather, four houses away. As my Dad spent time at the hospital with my mom, my grandparents, and God’s faithful Warrior’s of 5th Street...the Aunt Bea’s, helped raise two young girls. Each devotion in ‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith, introduces you to these Aunt Bea’s of 5th Street sharing their story in a tiny version of a real life Mayberry, where God moved mountains...in the ordinary small acts of His Warrior’s
The 5th Street Candle Collection was created to share the stories of the women of 5th Street from the book ‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith. These one-of-a-kind unique candles bring the devotions in 'Heart of a Warrior' to life. The simple brown tag on the candles have their favorite recipe (often the very scent the candle was created from) and part of their encouraging story. These candles light the flame of hope and encouragement, passed down from the 5th Street Warriors to you. A flame of love and devotion to God that will not be snuffed out from generation to generation.
The candles are made locally in Walnut, Iowa by a candlemaker. They are hand poured one at a time with pure soy and exceptionally high quality ingredients made only in the USA. These special candles tell a story. They're different. Just like the neighborhood on 5th Street, when you light the flame, you'll remember...a place where your memories and 5th Street intersect and your home is filled with the scent of cherished memories, laughter, and happiness in simpler times.
These candles are special...because they've been created to honor real people, real lives, and real women who had a story to tell. Welcome to 5th Street, relax sweet friend, you've found a place that is warm, welcoming, and filled with hope.
Blessings, Shelly Thompson
Author and Publisher of The Notebook Cafe - Inspired Words for the Journey
Welcome! If you've purchased a candle from the 5th Street Candle Collection, I personally, hope you are enjoying it. Welcome to something different 'The 5th Street Candle Collection' from our family to yours...tied with apron strings...faith in God’s plan...and love. These candles were created from the book 'Heart of a Warrior - A Legacy of Faith', now in it's 4th printing. 'Heart of a Warrior - A Legacy of Faith' was written after the passing of my mother. It's about my years growing up on 5th Street, a quaint little neighborhood tucked in Highland Park in Des Moines, Iowa. Our neighborhood was like the fictional Mayberry. There's so much of my history, my roots, on the big hill of 5th Street. It's where my story begins. If you can, visualize the tidy well manicured lawns of 5th Street, with small cozy homes lining the big hill...porches where you were always welcome and the neighbors visited over coffee and sweet tea as flags waved in the breeze...you're in the right spot, welcome to my childhood neighborhood.
In my book 'Heart of a Warrior' - A Legacy of Faith, I had the amazing honor to introduce readers to the ‘Warrior’s’ of 5th Street. A special place God planted a group of elderly women, mostly widows, that helped raise two young girls, as my mom was misdiagnosed and finally, even institutionalized. Among these faithful sweet women (I refer to them as the Aunt Bea’s of Mayberry in ‘Heart of a Warrior') was my sweet grandmother (Millie McKeever-Stout) and grandfather, four houses away. As my Dad spent time at the hospital with my mom, my grandparents, and God’s faithful Warrior’s of 5th Street...the Aunt Bea’s, helped raise two young girls. Each devotion in ‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith, introduces you to these Aunt Bea’s of 5th Street sharing their story in a tiny version of a real life Mayberry, where God moved mountains...in the ordinary small acts of His Warrior’s
The 5th Street Candle Collection was created to share the stories of the women of 5th Street from the book ‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith. These one-of-a-kind unique candles bring the devotions in 'Heart of a Warrior' to life. The simple brown tag on the candles have their favorite recipe (often the very scent the candle was created from) and part of their encouraging story. These candles light the flame of hope and encouragement, passed down from the 5th Street Warriors to you. A flame of love and devotion to God that will not be snuffed out from generation to generation.
The candles are made locally in Walnut, Iowa by a candlemaker. They are hand poured one at a time with pure soy and exceptionally high quality ingredients made only in the USA. These special candles tell a story. They're different. Just like the neighborhood on 5th Street, when you light the flame, you'll remember...a place where your memories and 5th Street intersect and your home is filled with the scent of cherished memories, laughter, and happiness in simpler times.
These candles are special...because they've been created to honor real people, real lives, and real women who had a story to tell. Welcome to 5th Street, relax sweet friend, you've found a place that is warm, welcoming, and filled with hope.
Blessings, Shelly Thompson
Author and Publisher of The Notebook Cafe - Inspired Words for the Journey
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‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith
Now in its fifth printing, this special book shared so many of those cherished moments from 5th Street. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, buried in between encouraging and inspirational posts on The Notebook Cafe Facebook page, I’ve shared the words God has put on my heart about my family, growing up on 5th Street, a legacy of faith handed down from generation to generation, laughter and joy a family celebrated life with, deep grief and loss including saying goodbye temporarily to my mom until the great reunion in heaven...and so much more. In His beautiful design...God shared the ordinary lives of 5th Street, and expanded the neighborhood to include so many people across the United States...thousands have ventured back to 5th Steet through the pages of ‘Heart of a Warrior’ - A Legacy of Faith, and became part of our story. Seriously, I am so overwhelmed and humbled by all that God has done. So much more than I could have asked or imagined (Ephesians 3:20). Click here to learn more...the book ships free. Heart of a Warrior |